As I prepare for my own retirement, I reflect on the inspiring words about the importance of building community in “My Parting Prescription for America” by Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, 19th & 21st Surgeon General of the United States Vice Admiral, United States Public Health Service.
They define my own experiences over the last 50+ of building communities – in the towns where I’ve lived, the schools where my children grew up, and my life’s work in the private sector, governance, and nonprofit leadership. They are the foundation of Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz County and reflect our values and culture as a community-driven, people-first, grassroots member-based organization, which holds space for nonprofits of all sectors and sizes. Thanks to the greater Santa Cruz County community for giving me – giving us – that sense of welcoming and belonging!
His Perspective is a reflection that weaves together Dr. Vivek Murthy’s personal and professional experiences having spent a majority of the last ten years as our nation’s Surgeon General. It is an individual perspective on the root causes of widespread pain and unhappiness he has seen across America and a prescription for how we can cultivate health and fulfillment. Dr. Murthy describes a number of concepts, including success, fulfillment, community, relationships, meaning, purpose, and more. While the exact definition of these terms may vary among different experts and disciplines, Dr. Murthy lays out his view of these concepts and how they can relate to our overall health.
“I came to appreciate that my parents weren’t teaching me how to build community—they were giving me the formula for fulfillment and well-being. Why? Because community is a powerful source of life satisfaction and life expectancy. It’s where we know each other, help each other, and find purpose in contributing to each other’s lives. These core pillars of community—relationships, service, and purpose—are powerful drivers of fulfillment. Together, they create the ecosystem of meaning and belonging. They can also significantly influence health outcomes, including premature mortality, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Community also gives us strength and resilience when facing the big challenges and countless paper cuts that come with moving through the world.
Over half a century ago, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that we cannot build a healthy community if we are motivated by hatred toward others.
To build community requires love. Love not as sentimentality, but as a commanding force with the power to build, strengthen, and heal. Love as generosity and kindness. Love as hope and grace. Love as courage. ~ Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr
In our own ways, we all have the power to choose community. Each time we do, we are doing our part to pave the road to fulfillment for ourselves and others.
America and the world need a new generation of community builders. A generation defined not by age but by spirit—by a fierce, unyielding commitment to each other and a clear-eyed, full-hearted recognition that we are kin, not enemies and that we fundamentally need each other. We must be that generation. It is up to us to reject the pessimism and animosity of our time and instead choose courage and hope. The choice we make to build community has the power to change lives and transform society.
Let us never forget that good people with hearts full of love can change the world.”